---
id: "jay-alammar-the-illustrated-transformer"
title: "The Illustrated Transformer"
creator: "Jay Alammar"
creator_url: "https://jalammar.github.io/illustrated-transformer/"
url: "https://jalammar.github.io/illustrated-transformer/"
level: "beginner"
level_max: null
category: "foundations"
subcategory: "llm-fundamentals"
region: "West"
license: "closed"
license_scope: "linked-resource"
models: ["any"]
source_date: null
date_added: "2026-10-18"
---

[Foundations](/foundations/index.md)

# The Illustrated Transformer

by [Jay Alammar](https://jalammar.github.io/illustrated-transformer/)

[Read the original →](https://jalammar.github.io/illustrated-transformer/)

See how attention and encoder-decoder blocks fit together.

Alammar explains the original Transformer using diagrams and a translation example. Read it for the architecture's basic moving parts, not as a description of every modern model variant.

Level: [Beginner](/levels/index.md#beginner)
Models: any
Category: [Foundations](/foundations/index.md)
Tags: 
Source date: date not stated
Added: 2026-10-18
Last verified: 2026-10-18
Status: ok
Prerequisites: Conceptual or guided prompt use; the main path does not require writing code.
Subcategory: [llm fundamentals](/foundations/llm-fundamentals/index.md)
Region: West
Original language: en
Access: free
Resource reuse: closed: No general open-reuse grant established from the inspected page. Closed is the conservative index bucket, not a legal finding; the resource is publicly readable. [Facet definitions](/about/index.md#facets)

Summary in our own words. Rights remain with the original creator. [Credit and correction policy](/about/index.md#credit-policy).

[Plain-text Markdown copy](/foundations/llm-fundamentals/jay-alammar-the-illustrated-transformer/index.md)